>> 2.18.2013

The words "youth culture" and "entertainment" commonly go together, but recently I was listening to a not-so-little-known conservative radio talk show host who asked the question, "Do you ever feel like you are living in two worlds?" I'll paraphrase the rest of the context but he continued something to the effect, "In one, you watch all the people around you going from one amusing thing to the next, always trying to find another dinner to go out to, concert to attend, movie to watch, and it's like they are blinded to the reality of what's really going on. In the other, you live in the reality of what's really happening in the world... this world ... is nothing like what I ever thought I'd see in my lifetime..." This is how I live every day. He may have been talking about some political issues, etc., but I am not. I am talking about the reality that Satan is having an absolute hay-day with people of the "Church." People who say, "That's not me. I'm not like that. At least I _________ (fill in the blank, "go to church," "pray occasionally", etc.)" All the while they live just as godlessly as anyone who doesn't claim the name of Christ. (Because they're under "grace", right?)

What struck me, is that I used to think it was just the "young people" who were amusing themselves to death...but after thinking about it, I realized that most adults around me are doing the same thing. Going from activity to activity without much meaningful anything in between...always looking for the next thing to make them "happy" and "not bored" and...well, ironically, hoping for some meaning. There is hardly a soul that I know that spends time praying, seriously praying; praying on behalf of their family members, needy neighbors, themselves, missionaries, their Brothers and Sisters In Christ who are dying EVERY DAY for proclaiming the truth of the GOSPEL...no, they are too busy planning their weekends and watching some sort of screen at night to "unwind." There is hardly a soul spending time reading the Word of God, truly studying it to KNOW HIM BETTER. No, that would be boring, wouldn't it? Where are the righteous and God-fearing older women who are supposed to be teaching the younger women how to love their husbands and children? Where are righteous and God-fearing older men who are supposed to be teaching the younger men how to live PURE LIVES? It makes me inwardly weep. It convicts me.

I am sickened by the lack of awareness, the ungodliness that surrounds me...even me, in my little rural town of rural Indiana, in my own little rural church...we are more than "falling" asleep. We sleep SOUNDLY being sung to by the Sirens...like the days of the Greeks when people feel into a trance at the sound of their sweet melodies...

I'm afraid nothing but the fulfillment of the promises of Jesus regarding the end days will awaken us...and perhaps at that, only us who are already watching and waiting...

Where are you? What breaks your heart? I am the first to say I do NOT have it "all together" spiritually. None of us will this side of heaven. But I am hungering for MORE OF HIM and LESS OF THE WORLD more and more everyday. For as much happiness this world can bring me-- a loving husband, beautiful children, happy days home teaching them, etc. -- I still resoundingly say from the depths of my heart, "Come, Lord Jesus, Come!"